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Caroline Is Out?

The New York Post and the New York Times are reporting that Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn her name from consideration to be appointed to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Senate.

The Post story cites "personal reasons" for Kennedy's decision and notes the collapse of her uncle -- Sen. Ted Kennedy (Mass.) -- yesterday at a bipartisan inauguration lunch may have influenced her decision.

The Fix has not as of yet been able to independently confirm Kennedy's decision. Her spokespeople are not commenting and Gov. David Paterson's office did not return an immediate email seeking comment.

If Kennedy is out of the running, the field is totally wide open with any number of potential contenders including state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Reps. Kirstin Gillibrand and Steve Israel, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi all prominently mentioned.

Cuomo, the son of the former Empire State governor, would have to be considered the favorite in a Kennedy-less field. Interestingly, Cuomo is set to be in Washington next Monday for a fundraiser feting him. The event is being held at the City Club of Washington.

i don't think ms. kennedy was the most qualified to either be a senator or run for reelection in 2010. but she wasn't evil for suggesting that she was interested and exploring the possibility and she really doesn't deserve the harsh sniping i'm reading here.

she is not a "no experience lightweight" anymore than many of the US Senators were before they got elected. and this isn't the end for her political aspirations. while she's probably not ready to run for US Senate, NY Gov, or NYC Mayor, running for a democratic or marginal congressional seat in NY might be just the thing.

Opa2 writes
"My guess is that the Governor said "Thanks but no thanks." and gave her the opportunity to withdraw. Sounds like good politics by both people."

That's the most logical explanation.

Moving on from CKS is good politics for Paterson, the Dems overall & the President. Let Paterson appoint someone who might be seen as a competent representative of NY state, rather than a legacy patsy for the good old boy network.

WE INTERRUPT THIS THREAD WITH BREAKING NEWS THAT KEITH OLBERMANN HAS CONFIRMED, VIA A FORMER NSA OPERATIVE, THAT JOURNALISTS ARE AMONG 'TARGETED' GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN SPIED UPON 24/7 BY A PERVASIVE GOVERNMENT 'PROGRAM'.

AS A FELLOW JOURNALIST/VICTIM, I TRIED TO TELL HIM THIS A YEAR OR SO AGO.

NOW HEAR THE REST OF THE STORY. IT'S WORSE THAN WATERGATE. MUCH, MUCH WORSE.

As I have written about in this space, it goes much, much further that just surveillance. An "American Gestapo" has ruined untold thousands of lives, contributed to the decimation of the economy, and has TORTURED American citizens with radiation weaponry and devices that the government now confirms are being placed in the hands of local law enforcement nationwide.

Keith, if you are reading this, please read the story linked below, updated last week but originally reported last July on my blog site.

Give me a call. I tried to tell you that day at 30 ROCK that you were a fellow victim. You wouldn't -- or couldn't? -- listen that day. Now read this:

Her backing out is not "good politics by both people." It's effectively the end of the road for politics for Caroline Kennedy, even assuming she has any further interest.

The biggest dig on her was that she was a no-experience lightweight with a sense of entitlement who expected to have one of the most plum political offices on earth handed to her on a platter. Now she comes across as a no-experience lightweight with a sense of entitlement who's too precious to make up her own mind. It takes a real fire in the belly -- if only of ambition -- to succeed in politics and Caroline hasn't got it. Having a rep like that is bad anywhere but in NY state politics, it's death. I'd call her the Fred Thompson of senate races except that Fred Thompson actually won two senate campaigns.

Why hasn't this been confirmed? I have the funniest feeling that if this isn't true, the Clinton camp came out with this rumor to discredit Carolyn Kennedy. We all know that Hillary doesn't want Carolyn or any Kennedy taking her seat in the Senate. Those Clinton's are something else...

I think DrainYou is spot on, and I wish Caroline had just said that. Perhaps she could hire DrainYou as her press officer.

As for Chris doing a 180, per twigmuffin, if Peter King report that Bret Favre told him he's going to retire, and Bret turns around 3 months later and unretires, does that make Peter King's initial report bad?

I think it's a tad cheap for Caroline to claim she's bailing based on Senator Kennedy's health - unless she's delusional, she knew his prognosis as well as he and the rest of us did long before there was any talk of Senator Clinton becoming Secretary of State.

I'm guessing that Caroline realized she didn't have the fight and stomach for politics. Also, she was going to have to be more transparent and my sense - like her mother - she just didn't want to do it.

It's understanable, her last name is "Kennedy" so that would have automatically made her the subject of GOP hitjobs for nothing more than that. Look at how the rightwing lunatic fringe is already foaming at the mouth over Senator Al Franken.

It has never been about what is good for the country with the Rethugs, to them everything is a political game and that's why they are currently occupying 4th party gadfly status.